By John Considine
The 1,000th and 1,001st medal achieved by Great Britain in the history of the Olympics were achieved in track cycling yesterday (7th August 2024). As of that date Great Britain also topped the medals table for Track Cycling in 2024. How much of this success is down to government funding? I don’t know but I can recount a story in Dan Martin’s autobiography Chased by Pandas.
While there are references to the targeting of Olympic medals throughout the book, Chapter 4 provides the best summary account of the situation. The story starts 20 years ago when Martin was a member of a British junior team comprising a range of future stars of cycling. One member was Mark Cavendish who this year broke the record for the most stage wins in the Tour de France. Many went on to form the core of Team Sky – a team that was to transform road cycling.
Martin performed poorly in the 2004 World Championships. After the race, his father took the chance to request a meeting with British Cycling. When the meeting happened, one of those on the side of British Cycling was Dave Brailsford. Brailsford was to later head up the successful Team Sky years and is currently involved in Manchester United. Brailsford made it clear that British Cycling had nothing to offer Dan Martin. Why? Because he did not fit the profile. As Martins says “The ultimate goal wasn’t to convert the best track riders to road racers, but to the best road racers onto the track, with the aim of achieving Olympic success. British Cycling’s government funding depended on the medal it won.” Ruthless and seemingly efficient.
While there are references to the targeting of Olympic medals throughout the book, Chapter 4 provides the best summary account of the situation. The story starts 20 years ago when Martin was a member of a British junior team comprising a range of future stars of cycling. One member was Mark Cavendish who this year broke the record for the most stage wins in the Tour de France. Many went on to form the core of Team Sky – a team that was to transform road cycling.
Martin performed poorly in the 2004 World Championships. After the race, his father took the chance to request a meeting with British Cycling. When the meeting happened, one of those on the side of British Cycling was Dave Brailsford. Brailsford was to later head up the successful Team Sky years and is currently involved in Manchester United. Brailsford made it clear that British Cycling had nothing to offer Dan Martin. Why? Because he did not fit the profile. As Martins says “The ultimate goal wasn’t to convert the best track riders to road racers, but to the best road racers onto the track, with the aim of achieving Olympic success. British Cycling’s government funding depended on the medal it won.” Ruthless and seemingly efficient.
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